BARISAN Nasional (BN) has assured that the coalition will support Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim until after the 16th general election.

Its chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed confidence the cooperation with Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) will cause less harm than Perikatan Nasional.

The Bagan Datuk MP also issued a reminder that the unity government in existence now would not have been possible without BN.

“Even though Umno and BN’s 30 parliamentary seats are complementary, if PH has 82 seats without these 30, there will be no unity government.

“What we think is not about benefit but the harm it may cause… which party poses more harm.

“But we decided that the small damage is to Datuk Seri and that ‘damage’ brings more benefit to the people,” he said, referring to Anwar.

In his speech at the inaugural National Unity Government Convention today, he further called on party leaders to continue to support Anwar and defend the government.

“I am confident if we help Anwar as much as possible, idealism can be translated into good policies.

“Don’t look back. There are people who don’t like us, there are people who criticise us. (Don’t) bother about that. The people want this unity government to move forward for the sake of the people.”

The unity government comprises 19 parties with a combined 148 majority seats out of 222 in the Dewan Rakyat.

The inaugural convention was held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. – May 14, 2023.